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Memento Mori

2016 1 h 29 min
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With remarkable access to Canada’s busiest organ-transplant hospital, this documentary brings viewers face-to-face with stories of life and death, and the impossible decisions that tragedy demands. From the very beginning to the final frame, filmmaker Niobe Thompson grips viewers in a relentless, emotional embrace and propels them from moments of unexpected joy to unbearable heartbreak.

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Memento Mori

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With remarkable access to Canada’s busiest organ-transplant hospital, this documentary brings viewers face-to-face with stories of life and death, and the impossible decisions that tragedy demands. From the very beginning to the final frame, filmmaker Niobe Thompson grips viewers in a relentless, emotional embrace and propels them from moments of unexpected joy to unbearable heartbreak.

  • director
    Niobe Thompson
  • executive producer
    Rosie Dransfeld
    David Christensen
  • producer
    Rosie Dransfeld
    Bonnie Thompson
  • director of photography
    aAron Munson
    Sergio Olivares
  • editor
    Scott Parker
  • writer
    Niobe Thompson
  • composer
    Jonathan Kawchuk
  • assistant editor
    Esther Viragh
  • additional camera work
    Daron Donahue
    Tamarra Canu
  • production manager
    Sandra Tober
  • production coordinator
    Esther Viragh
  • production assistant
    Tamarra Canu
    Dylan Rhys Howard
    Myles Belland
  • location sound recording
    Philip Dransfeld
    Carey Opper
  • audio post production
    Johnny Blerot Sound Inc.
  • sound design
    John Blerot
  • sound mix
    John Blerot
  • additional sound design
    Jonathan Kawchuk
  • sound editor
    John Blerot
    Perry Blackman
    Iain Pattison
    Jordan Ivey
    Chris Szott
  • musician
    Christine Hanson
    Keri Zwicker
    Jennifer McMillan
    Neda Yamach
    Rafael Hoekman
    Dianne New
    Andrew Reid
    Clayton Leung
    Josh Rapanos
  • colour grading
    Joe Owens
  • online masters
    Joe Owens
  • graphics
    Scott Portingale
  • production accountant
    Richard Warburton
  • production bookkeeper
    Hui Min
  • production solicitor
    Norman Bishop
  • visual research
    Gina Cali
  • production stills
    Tamarra Canu
  • marketing manager
    Melissa Wheeler
  • post-production co-ordinator
    Ginette D'Silva
    Jasmine Pullukatt
    Faye Yoneda
  • production supervisor
    Mark Power
    Esther Viragh
  • centre administrator
    Bree Beach
  • centre operations manager
    Darin Clausen
  • executive director
    Michelle van Beusekom
    Jennifer Dettman
  • director of production
    Alexandra Lane
  • director of finance
    Julie Lawlor
  • production executive
    Bruce Cowley

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Education

Ages 15 to 18
School subjects

Warning: Depictions of death and dying, surgery, organs/blood 

Brief “lesson launcher type” activity or a series of inquiry questions with a bit of context: 

This documentary explores organ donation by interviewing the families, individuals and medical professionals involved in the process, and looks at the future of organ transplants and the role of science and technology.  

  • What is the history of organ transplantation in humans? How has the technology advanced? Describe some of the advances explored in this documentary, which was released in 2016, and any advancements made since then. 
  • What are the ethical questions involved in connecting the family of the organ donor with the recipient? Should this process be encouraged or discouraged? Why? 
  • Why do you think there is a shortage of organ donors? What should be done to encourage people to donate their organs to save the lives of others?